16 Sep 2009

Clijsters prefers home comforts to tilt at top ranking

7:28 am on 16 September 2009

Despite needing just a month to hurtle from nowhere to 19th in the world rankings, new US Open tennis champion Kim Clijsters has no intention of racking up the air miles to pursue a rise to the top of the standings.

The Belgian was hailed as the poster girl for working mums around the world when she became the first mother to win a grand slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong triumphed at Wimbledon in 1980.

Remarkably, Clijsters lifted the title in just her third tournament back after taking a two-year hiatus and although she rejoined the grand slam winners' club so swiftly, taking care of her 18-month-old daughter Jada remains the Belgian's priority.

It's another indictment of the rankings system, which has the well-travelled Russian Dinara Safina at number one despite her never having won a grand slam.